WASHINGTON — A government report says the U.S. approved $200 million in military sales from American companies to Bahrain in 2010, months before the pivotal Persian Gulf ally began a harsh crackdown on protesters.

The yearly State Department report provides totals of U.S.-authorized arms sale agreements between U.S. defense companies and foreign governments. The latest tally showed a $112 million rise in licensed defense sales to Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, in 2009 and 2010.

The U.S. had green-lighted $88 million in military exports to Bahrain in 2009.

Much involved aircraft and military electronics, but the U.S. also licensed $760,000 in exports of rifles, shotguns and assault weapons in 2010. Since mid-February, the kingdom has confronted demonstrators with armed military and police firing live ammunition. At least 31 people have died and hundreds more injured.

The possibility that American-built weapons might have been used against protesters has raised questions in Congress and led the department to review its defense trade relationships with Middle East nations.

Some transactions are on hold and the review has broadened into a policy reassessment that could alter U.S. defense trade oversight.